Citrus Lane August Box Reivew: Back to School

"Play to learn is what's it's all about at this stage, so let the games begin!" 

-Citrus Lane August 2013 Insert

Our box was a "special size" this month to accommodate the goods inside... made us curious to see just what they were!

Okay, so maybe babies and toddlers don't actually go back to school, although I'm sure some do go back to daycare or have just continued right along with their daycare or if old enough, preschool. But mine doesn't. K- is lucky, or unlucky (take your pick) to be at home with me and I with her. Some days it's the absolute best thing in the whole world and others I'm sure we're both wishing the situation were different. Although that's how it is, she doesn't go "back to school" - at least not yet. That being said our Citrus Lane box this month was loosely based on a "back to school" theme. After all that's what time of year it is for most people and really learning takes place at every age and every stage, so why not?

If you're not familiar with Citrus Lane, it's a subscription box (and a great online community) tailored for kids in the age bracket of 0-5 years old.  All their products are parent chosen and approved! Each month your subscription gets you 4-5 best of products that they feel will make your life with your little one a little easier and more fun. You can try your first box for only $12.50 when you sign up for the monthly option and use code "TAKEHALF" at checkout. Boxes are $25 a month or $21 a month with a longer subscription and if you use my link when you sign up you'll save an additional $10 off any subscription (can't be combined with any other promo like "takehalf" though). So, what are you waiting for? Try it here! Canceling is easy and can be done anytime, right on their website, just fill out the survey and you're done!

The Exciting Part... Our Back to School Box - a first look!

Having no clue what's in the box is half the fun! This month was a total surprise for us and we had no idea what was going to be inside when we opened it up. Yup, it's a fun one! This is exactly what it looked like after taking off the tissue paper on top.

And here's what all was actually in the box this month for a 19 month old girl. You have the option to customize your box for age and gender or if you prefer not to have it gender specific they do have an option to do age and "neutral." We honestly started out with a gender "neutral" box but switched it to "girl" after realizing that the only thing that really changes is the designs on things for most boxes, once in awhile the boxes will have different content, but not often enough for it to really matter. 

Box Contents

• Crocodile Creek 5" Playground Ball - okay who doesn't love balls for their little one? Yeah, we have tons of balls, but surprisingly enough we don't actually have a mini playground ball and this one just happens to be K's- favorite color in the now (it changes; often) PURPLE! Retail price ~ $9.99
• Clean Well All Natural Hand Sanitizing Wipes - This container is huge. It contains 40 alcohol free wipes and they actually smell okay! The scent is orange vanilla. The only way I'd pack these with me is if I transferred them to another container that was more portable. These I think will either sit by our front door for when we come in from the park or go in with our art kit to make for easy hand clean up when we need it most. Retail price ~ $10.47 for 3 containers.
• Octopus Opposites Board Book - We love, love, love Barefoot Books and this new one is no exception! While we have tons of books about opposites and K- can even say "opposite" or her own version of it, we don't have this one! I love the bright, bold, kid friendly and very happy illustrations in this book and know that K- is going to love them too, after all they're animals. I also like that after all the simple sentences are over the last couple pages are pictures with "concept questions" designed for you to talk about the story - a great way to check listening and when they get to that stage reading comprehension. Of course we'll use these pages to make up many of our own questions as well! We couldn't be happier than when Citrus Lane includes a good book in our box! Retail price ~ $7.19
• Ouchies Jr. Adhesive Bandages - Okay, I thought it was a really cool idea to include fun bandages in the box this month! Better yet they are even latex free! I love them so much more than the disposable one time use ice packs from a previous box. K- has only recently discovered the "power" of bandages to "fix ouchies" she's also totally into fun stickers so these will be a definite win. Besides what better way to calm an upset or hurt child than with the distraction of a fun way to patch up their boo-boo? This was a brilliant idea and the tin they came in will be well received as well. Although we may never be able to go back to plane old bandages again.... Retail price ~ $4.96
• Plum Organics Fruit Straws - These will absolutely be well received and honest they're a product that we haven't yet tried by Plum Organics. I've put them up to throw in our carry on bag for our trip to Nana and Opa's in a week as they'll be great for a special treat on the plane or in the airport. I can see them being used to suck down water or just about anything else and as a bonus there is a 1/3 of a cup in each packet or in every 2 straws. I really would have liked it if Citrus Lane had been feeling generous and just sent a full box instead of 2 packets, but I am excited to give this product a chance. Retail price ~ $3.50
• FabKids Free Trial Offer - Okay, so this is a "Special Offer" included in the box an I never add this in as part of the actual box retail value. I just look at it as sort of a bonus or a temptation or sometimes simply recycling. I haven't decided where I stand on this one. We didn't subscribe to Citrus Lane in order to also subscribe to other subscription services. That being said if we are able to claim our free 3 piece clothing outfit from FabKids without signing up for an ongoing subscription we just might. I have heard that they're very hard to cancel with so I assume it's one of those read the fine print and use extreme caution situations. Honestly I would have loved to just been given a gift voucher for $ at a clothing company that we do shop at. I would never pay $39.95 a month regularly for 3 pieces of clothing. So this really isn't at all an attractive offer. Retail price ~ $0.00 (free offer).
• Do-It-Yourself Bowling Pins - These are a new offering this month that were only included in some of the boxes as Citrus Lane wants to test whether or not parents like the idea of an added "special activities" in the box. They're printed on heavy cardstock with letters on one side and numbers on the other. You color them yourself, I'm going to let K- paint hers since that's what we're into right now and then assemble them. The idea is that you can use them with the ball from this month's box for some good old hallway bowling! Sounds fun, can't wait to see what K- thinks! Personally, I think this idea is a great one, as long as the special activities aren't considered part of the 4 or more items that come in the box each month and aren't necessarily incorporated into the total box retail value. If the activities are bonuses that would be awesome!

Final Thoughts

Great box! We'll use everything in it except the FabKids offer, I'm not sure we'll be using that one and would really like to stop seeing those be included in the boxes as one of the items. 

If you're interested in getting your own box in September, make sure you sign up before the 5th of the month! Remember if you sign up using the code TAKEHALF your first box will only be $12.50 and it's definitely worth well beyond that! So, what are you waiting for? Try it here! Canceling is easy and can be done anytime, right on their website, just fill out the survey and you're done!

All thoughts, opinions & photos included here are my own. No compensation was received for this post. If you use my referral links listed (I appreciated it and thank you, if you do!) I may receive some credit toward my own future boxes. I have been a subscriber of Citrus Lane's monthly boxes since June 2012.

PopSugar Box ~ August Love ~ Giveaway Link!

PopSugar ~ August Box 1st Peak!

....It came, it came, it came; finally! No, it wasn't late, I just was impatient and couldn't wait. Last month was my first PopSugar MustHave Box and I must admit I loved every bit of July's box (maybe minus the rose gold necklace) so I couldn't wait to see what August surprises were in store! I knew this was their "anniversary/1st birthday box."

Must Have Anniversary Gift - value $65

And that they were sending a "special gift" of a Gorjana and Griffin Open Circle necklace, which has a value alone of $65 (they sent out a spoiler email) and I must say I love it even more than I thought I would. It's really delicate and classic. I'm actually wearing it as I write this and compared to the necklace from last month, this one doesn't weight a thing! I couldn't wait to see what the rest was!

Let's just say PopSugar didn't disappoint! The boxes are $35 a month, less if you sign up for a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription and right now you can use code REFER5 to save $5 off your first box. I'd say if there was only one box I was going to get for myself, this would be it! It's a little bit of everything and is best described as a "lifestyle box." The total contents of the August box had a retail value of approximately $175; not bad considering it only cost $35. They're sold out for September already, but if you sign up now, you can still get in on October's box... check it out here! And if your interested or feel like a splurge, they're currently offering a special edition Fall Style Box for a limited time only; this is definitely out of my budget at $100, but I'm curious to see what all will be in it just the same. Also, at the bottom of this review there is a link to a giveaway from another blogger who is generously giving one of those coveted boxes away ~ good luck!

The August PopSugar box was crammed full with an amazing mix of products aimed at "getting organized, staying healthy, and taking care of yourself" - awesome!

Each box comes with a hot pink information booklet that tells you all about the products in that month's box. I love that they do this and think it's such a fun layout. This month all the products were categorized as either "Must Have Home" or Must Have Beauty" but they still managed to include a wide variety of items!

Must Have Home

 How cute is this San Francisco designed adorable little red Lunares Apple Bowl?

 I love the candy apple red color and while it says it's food safe for both hot and cold foods it's fairly small. It might make a great nut dish, or dip dish if you were so inclined and only needed a little bit. I think I'll be more inclined to use it for an earring holder, or a place to leave stamps and lip balm by my front door. It's a solid little dish and if I decide not to use if for myself I can already think of several people who would probably love it as a gift.... Gotta love endless possibilities.

List maker? Yes, I am! I love writing things down on paper and crossing them off, it makes me feel more productive. So this May Designs Weekly Agenda Notebook  was right up my alley!

Plus I love that it's got enough room to write in but still flat enough to fit in your small purse or day bag, this thing could go anywhere! This little book has you covered all you need is a leak proof pen and you're set! It's also such a fun design and the color couldn't be better!

Finally, the Bentgo.

Okay, so I was really hoping this one was going to be leak-proof according to the website it's not "Note: Bentgo is NOT leak proof. It does seal very well, but to be safe when packing dressing, fruit, and other liquids, be sure to keep the Bentgo upright during transport." I guess I'll have to test it for myself and see. It is very generously sized and is microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe which is awesome. This comes in 4 colors and if I'd chosen it, I would have picked any color (blue, green, gray - love the gray!) except the purple. Again, purple isn't a color I love... my daughter does. This is an item my husband would definitely get tons and tons of use out of and once we try this one out (depending on how well it does seal) we may get him one of his own, since I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be thrilled to be rocking the purple one to class and to work everyday. I love the idea behind this bento box a lot though and I'm glad it was in my PopSugar box!

Must Have Beauty

I love getting new products to try and things I've never heard of and Lulah Body Wash is definitely one of those!

That being said, I've already used it and not only have I fallen in love with this product, I love the way it smells. I got the Tamarind-Ginger and I must say, it's not one I would have picked out on my own without smelling it first, but I love how refreshing and clean smelling it is. The absolute perfect pick me up fragrance after a hot day or a great wake up call in the morning! Lulah has five scents in total and I'm pretty sure I would love them all. I'm also pretty positive this is going to be my new go to company for everyday fragrance products, they're made and filled in the USA and they're all free of parabens, phthalates, petrolatum, mineral oil, sls/sles and they don't test on animals! Awesome! PopSugar hit this one out of the park in my book!

Finally, there was a deluxe sample set of Dermalogica Precleanse and Special Cleansing Gel. These two products, used together are apparently "going to change my skin regimen." Well, technically they would if I used them I'm not 100% I'm sold on this one. I may try it just to see what it's all about, I have them right? But I'm one of those people who tends to stick with what works and I'm all about the least amount of steps to get the job done and this one has a lot of steps... there are 8 of them!

Bonus Item

In the box this month there was also a bonus item (not included on the informational booklet) and something I shockingly haven't tried yet from a *gasp* subscription box we don't currently subscribe too. While I must admit these Nature Box Granny Smith Apples do look pretty tasty, Nature Box

just doesn't seem like a box we'd be in love with. These will be going in our snack bag for our taxi-2.5 hour airport shuttle-to airport-cross country flight-pick up by Opa & Nana-drive home cross border trip, in a couple of weeks. We honestly eat fairly healthy, and while like everyone we snack, we make a lot of our own. Plus we live in the heart of apple country and can make these ourselves to the dryness that we like them year round. There was a special 50% off code for new subscribers to join Nature Box and while it has been tempting at times to maybe just do one and try something new, so far we've been good and resisted this one. It seems like this is a pretty common special offer for Nature Box though, so I don't really feel like I'm missing out.

 Final Thoughts on the August PopSugar Box?

I loved it! It's my second box of a 3 month gift subscription and I must say it's one of the most fun gifts I've been given in a long time, especially because it's spread out over time and it's truly a surprise and while it's a box for me, so far there have been things in each box that the rest of my family can use/share or that I could end up saving for future gifts. I think PopSugar is definitely a box I would enjoy subscribing to for myself in the future and would definitely love to be given another subscription too! If you want to try your own PopSugar monthly box or longer subscription or give it as a gift (it's a great one) you can sign up for it using my referral link http://popsu.gr/gVNf and code REFER5 to save $5 off! 

*PsstPsst: if you want to take your chances and possibly win a Limited Fall Must Have Box hop on over to MommySplurge's Blog and enter her giveaway! I know this is one I'd love to win; it's the only way I'd ever get it as it's definitely not in our budget for the next few years. If you don't want to take your chances on winning one and our up for the $100 shell out to purchase it you can do so here; while they last! 

PS: Here's a spoiler picture for that box!

PopSugar Must Have was a gift to me from someone I know. I am a current popsugar subscriber. I was in no way compensated for this review. All thoughts, opinions and photos are my own. If you purchase your own Popsugar Must Have box using my referral link I may eventually receive a free box from the company. Once you create an account you will receive a referral code of your own to share.

August Stork Stack "Damaged Goods"

So excited that our August Stork Stack was out for delivery today! ...at lest until we got to the mailbox and found this...

This is what was waiting for us in the mailbox. :(

The box wasn't just soggy and falling apart; it stunk. The product that leaked smelled awful mixed with the cardboard.

Much to K's- utter disappointment, she didn't even get to help open this box up. I honestly didn't even want to bring it inside it stunk so bad. But I wanted to take pictures so that I could email Stork Stack's Customer Service and hopefully they'll replace the damaged items! Also, I really hope that the product that leaked doesn't actually smell like the box inside the plastic bag (thanks to the US Postal Service) smelled or we definitely won't be using it if they do replace it. Yuck!

From what I could make out of the box, it looked like a fun one. Stork Stack chose to go with a "Splish, Splash, Bed and Bath" theme this month and that seemed like a great one to us! The products listed on the information card as best I could make them out included: a green toy product (I'm guessing sub, seaplane or tug boat) - I'm hoping it was the new seaplane, but I don't know as I can't read my card and this item was missing from our box; a Rich Frog Soap Sack; a book called "It's Time To Sleep" by Nancy Tillman which I was so sad to see covered in soap because I love her books and we don't have this one yet!; Bionee Pure Hair and Body Cleansing Foam and the culprit of the damage and destruction that was our box this month, also the culprit of the horrible stench... hmm, not thrilled about this one; and finally, Chivas Bath Salts - a treat for mom!

Ewww!

Should have been a fun box, isn't the soap sack cute?

Anyway, I emailed Customer Support as soon as I put my little one to bed tonight and am hoping for a speedy and helpful response and some replacement products soon! I've never really had any dealings with Stork Stack Support to date so am curious to see what they're like. I will be sure to update here as customer service is incredibly important to me in any company I deal with.

If you're interested in checking out Stork Stack and want to save $10 on your first order feel free to use this code F9DE8478 at checkout! All of our past Stacks have been phenomenal and I'm sure we'll have some sort of resolution soon for this one! The items in this box with the Green Toy included would have retailed for about $47.00 which is pretty awesome considering that you can get your first Stack using F9DE8478 for only $17.99.

I am a current stork stack subscriber. I was in no way compensated for this review. All thoughts, opinions and photos are my own. If you purchase your own stork stack using my referral code I may receive a $10 credit on my next stack. Once you create an account you will receive a referral code of your own to share.

Citrus Lane July Box: Bon Voyage!? + Discount Code

#CLJulyBox Boxes are $25/month. You can check them out here Use code "TAKEHALF" at checkout on any monthly subscription and your first box will be $12.50 or save $10 by using my referral link https://www.citruslane.com/invitedby/Audrey.Albinger!

So our Citrus Lane July Box arrived today and I was super stoked to find it in the post box, because they're not supposed to ship until the 15th of the month with the intention of having all boxes delivered between the scheduled arrival dates of the 17th-22nd of each month. In the past we've had some really fast shipping and some really slow shipping, so getting the box on the 13th was a really pleasant surprise!

"add on" option: Bumpkin 2 pocket Wet&Dry Bag

That being said, it seems from casual observation of the CL social media page feed over the past couple of months, that boxes containing the "add on items" that they're offering as a trial right now get to the customers who take advantage and "purchase" one of these items faster. While I enjoyed getting our box as early as we did, I don't think that seems fair to the customers who either weren't offered the "add on items" this month or those who chose not to take advantage of this and I assume it's one of the kinks of the trial that they'll work out before they do an official community wide launch of box "add on" items if that's what they're indeed going to do.

So without further ado, here's a look inside our July Citrus Lane box for a 19 month old girl this month!

As you can see from the picture above, it's a wide mix of products. According to Citrus Lane this box is supposed to make life easier when "traveling" whether you're going on vacation or staying local this summer. As well an item that will make those as they say "inevitable rainy days" and possibly even days that are just plain too hot to go out fun.

A more detailed look at July's box content.

The item that took up the most room in the box and the one that my husband got most excited about was the SUMO Snack Stacker from ZoLi $14.50 on Amazon. This is a 3 tier stacker that's bigger than the ZoLi On-the-Go. Each of the tiers holds up to 8oz of snacks or mealtime food, making the option for a variety of healthy foods at the ready when you or your little one needs it most. I won't actually be surprised if this one ends up in my husband's lunch bag as often as it ends up out with my daughter and I. Also, the pieces are interchangeable and if you had a second and wanted to take 5 one cup servings along at one time all you'd have to do is add them to your original stack. I can see us taking this with on our next cross country flight, as it will be perfect for bulky toddler foods. As a side note this would also make an awesome organizational tool for art and craft supplies (think pompoms, foam stickers and large beads).

Next up we had a package of Cool It Buddy Instant Cold Packs from Me4Kidz $2.99 for 2 packs. Me4Kidz provides parent and kid friendly always on hand first aid supplies. This company was featured in last year's Bon Voyage box as well only we received, what I found to be a more useful product by them the Diaper Bag Buddy. The instant cold packs are standard one time use ice packs; snap or squeeze and shake to activate. I love reusable ice pack or just plain old ice, but recognize that you don't always have access to that. In which case, these are great if you remember to pack them along! I keep a well stocked first aid kit at home, and when we owned a car I kept a kit in it as well. This would be an item I would keep in an older kids soccer bag, a hiking pack, a camping kit. It's not intended for use on kids under the age of 2 (I won't be using it in the foreseeable future) and doubt that even with a 2 year old I'd be packing these around daily.  For now they'll just go into our extra first aid supplies bin.

Also included in last year's Bon Voage box and again in this year's July box (with a "Bon Voyage!" at the end of the hello sheet) was a code for 10 free postcard credits from Postagram $9.90. If you haven't heard of or used Postagram now is the time to check it out! You can sign up and download the app for your phone here. Then just snap a picture, write a short message and you Sincerely Inc. via Postagram does the rest. Your recipient ends up with a very nice personalized, printed card right in their mailbox! How cool is that? Send a postcard from anywhere to anyone right from your phone. Pretty cool and a vacation staple!

We also received a GoGo squeeZ Fruit Pouch in BerryApple less than $1.00. Pouches seem to be our go to travel back up food. They're great for when you need a quick snack anytime anywhere and GoGo squeeZ has your applesauce on the go needs covered. They seriously have a flavor for every pallet! These are awesome if you freeze them ahead of time for a alternative to an ice pack in your lunch bag! Also, they're currently donating $1.00 in partnership with Life is Good to children in need for every "share" this video receives. So if you care and have a minute to spare; go, play...share!

Finally, the box did include a toy this month and one that the good folks over at Citrus Lane deem to be both fun (good for rainy days and days that are just too hot to be outside all day long) and education while also helping to build confidence, dexterity and pattern recognition. Win-win!

This Wooden Peg Puzzle from Melissa & Doug $7.99 (at our local TJ Maxx). We've tried several Melissa & Doug products at our house and of all the wooden toy makers, they are unfortunately (because Citrus Lane seems to love them,) one of our least favorites. Maybe we just had a couple of poorly made products that also happened to be our first M&D toys, but they didn't hold up, the paint chipped within a month of gentle use and the picture surface of a wooden puzzle started to peel. So far I haven't been impressed by the quality of their toys. Maybe this one will be better?  I'm hopeful that it will be, as we're all about counting right now and while K- doesn't yet recognize her numbers by sight, she can say several of them loves to copy-count. She also recognizes and can say all of these colors and will have a blast checking out the pictures under the pieces.

All in all, the July box is a great one and we're excited about it! As you can see the approximate value of the items in this box was about $36.38, Citrus Lane no longer gives the value of the items included on their information cards. Did you get a July box this month, if so what did you think? Interested in signing up? Boxes are $25/month if you sign up for a monthly or 3 month subscription or $21/month if you sign up for the 6 month option. You can try your first box for only $12.50 when you select monthly box and use code "takehalf" at checkout. Or you can save $10 off any subscription by using my referral link https://www.citruslane.com/invitedby/Audrey.Albinger


All thoughts, opinions & photos included here are my own. No compensation was received for this post. If you use my referral links listed (I appreciated it and thank you, if you do!) I may receive some credit toward my own future boxes. I have been a subscriber of Citrus Lane's monthly boxes since June 2012.

PopSugar Must Have - July Box & August Anniversary Preview!

I was so excited to get an email yesterday saying that my Popsugar Must Have box should be arriving. This was my first box from them, but I've been interested in getting one for what seems like forever! It was a belated Mother's Day gift, but hey, I'll happily take it! For those of you who don't know, Popsugar is a life style box that targets women between 18-40 (I believe they also have men's boxes too) and every month they curate a box of the most "it" items and accessories of the season. The box is $35 a month including shipping, but if you sign up for a longer subscription you can get a box free. If you're interested in checking it out for yourself you can follow my referral link http://popsu.gr/gVRD (I'll thank you now for doing so!) and if you use code SAVE5PSMH or REFER5 you should save $5 on your first month! A lot of people thought that July was going to be their 1st year anniversary box, but it looks like based on an email they sent out earlier today that they're saving the birthday bash for August and even sending a special gift with a $65 value! So if you've ever wanted to give Popsugar a try, now is the time!

Now for my box.... Here's what came in the July Box

So, most of this is stuff I would have never bought for myself. First off, because we're on a tight budget - my husband is a student and I'm a stay at home mom and that means there isn't any money for extras and fun extravagances right now. Secondly, because I usually shop safe. If money weren't an issue, than I probably wouldn't hesitate to buy the Supergoop! because I've heard and read the most wonderful things about this sunscreen and I'm over the moon happy to try it out! I also would buy the Mighty Leaf Iced Tea, because both my husband and I love iced tea, especially in the summer time and anything mango is always a hit! But the rest of it the NCLA nail lacquer, the Baublebar chain necklace in rose gold, the cookie chips (which are dark chocolate and oh so tempting), and the Tolvolo King Cube XL silicone Tray for ice cubes? I never would have thought to purchase any of it! Almost all of these things would have been "a step outside the box" for me. And yet, I must admit while it didn't live up to the reviews I read about June's box and the final push for me to go with Popsugar, I'm thrilled by my July Box. It's totally about and for me, but I can share half of it with my family and it's the best gift because it allows me to try things I wouldn't have otherwise tried!

For instance, I'm wearing the NCLA nail polish in "As If !" a very pastel matte purple with cool undertones on my toenails as I write this and I have to admit that I might have to give purple a bigger chance in the future. Anyone who knows me, knows that I mostly detest anything purple or pink as a general rule. Since having a little girl a year and a half ago, that's changed a bit, but it's still not a "go to" color for me. The more I look at this color, the more it makes me happy (gasp) and I can't help but think how cute it would look with a pair of peep toes and a dress for a date or just shorts and sandals for a day at the beach. I don't wear nail polish on my finger nails, except for very, very special occasions, so I don't have reason to buy much of it and when I do, I stick to colors I know are "safe" with my skin tone and the season. This is the first bottle of NCLA 5 Free Luxury Nail Lacquer I've ever owned and so far I'm hooked. It goes on smooth and covers well. I can't wait to see how it holds up to everyday wear!

 I'm still on the fence about the necklace by Baublebar that came in the box. I did try it on and I must admit I do like the rose gold, better than I like yellow gold, but more often than not I wear white gold or sterling silver accessories. I also don't usually go in for big, chunky or clunky and these chains are solid. Hmm, maybe I'll find a good place to wear them when we go on vacation this September, or maybe I'll just put this one up and use it as a gift for someone else who would enjoy it so much more. Popsugar did send a coupon code for 20% off your first order at Baublebar as well a great deal for those in the market for some awesome fashion jewelry. I'm not sure I'll be using this either, unless I find that I need to pick up a certain accessory for the wedding we're attending at the end of summer. We'll see. I was excited to be introduced to this new company though!

Okay, Like I said before, my husband and I love iced tea in the summer. Actually we could both probably drink it year round and ice disappears fairly fast around our house. So, the addition of a new XL cube ice tray is awesome! The cubes are HUGE compared to a normal ice cube, so all you need is one. I'm guessing the larger size will also take longer to melt and keep our drinks colder longer too? Okay, maybe that's just wishful thinking. Haven't tried it out yet, as it's in the freezer making ice right now. I can also see this making great frozen treats as well. All you'd have to do is put some cake-pop or Popsicle sticks in and you'd have easy iced treats on a stick which my toddler will love!

We love trying new foods, and it's hard to go wrong with something that's dark chocolate! I'm excited to try and share the Hannahmax Baking All Natural Crunchy Cookie Chips with my family. But we'll probably take them on our next picnic adventure, if they don't get opened before that. H/M Baking is another new to us brand and I love that they're both all natural and that the ingredient list isn't a mile and a half long!

The iced tea by Mighty Leaf in Calypso Mango is divine! I love fruit infused tea and what screams summer more than tropical flavors like Mango? I am more cautious when picking black teas as fruit infused green tends to by my favorite, but this one is definitely getting added to our summer iced tea selection! It's just that good. It's smooth, it's fruity and so refreshing!

Finally, the product I was the most excited about was the full sized bottle of Doctor T's Supergoop! SPF30 PA+++ Anti-Aging UV Damage Repair Complex City Sunscreen Serum. The first I heard about Supergood! was the end of last summer and I've been wanting to try it ever since. I fully believe in the power of sunscreen and I'm one of those people who definitely regret it and burn when I don't put it on. I used to be terrible about remembering to apply it, but with a toddler in tow and since we're always outside, I've gotten much better about it. However, I could never justify the cost of Supergoop! Especially when I still had sunscreen to use up and for whatever reason it seems to multiply around our house. I did receive a couple of samples in my daughter's July Stork Stack last week, they're a different formula, but they're awesome so I can't wait to try this one out on me!

 
Final thoughts on my first ever Popsugar box, it could have been better, but overall I'm excited and it was so much fun to get something in the mail that was just for me! Not baby related, not bills, just a fun, gift like box of goodies. I love that I can use most of it right away and that there was a nice mix of items. The only possible "dud" in my book was the necklace and I'm still on the fence on that one.

Did you get your own box? What did you think? Are you interested in getting one? Check them out here, sign up for August before they sell out as it promises to be good based on the "celebrate with us" email I received from them this morning!

August is going to be their Must Have Anniversary and every box will include the Gorjana and Griffin Open Circle necklace, which has a value of $65! It is gold but I love, love love it! If I was ever on the fence about it before I wouldn't want to miss out on August's box. You can always sign up for one month and then cancel before you're billed for the next one. You'll be getting a necklace worth $65 if you do and if you use code REFER5 or SAVE5PSMH it will only cost you $30, shipping is included! You'll get your money's worth too! Each box has a value of at least $100. July's Box would retail for around. $102.24.

PopSugar Must Have was a gift to me from someone I know. I am a current popsugar subscriber. I was in no way compensated for this review. All thoughts, opinions and photos are my own. If you purchase your own Popsugar Must Have box using my referral link I may eventually receive a free box from the company. Once you create an account you will receive a referral code of your own to share.

July Stork Stack or Ready, Set, Summer! + Discount Code

July's Stork Stack showed up in our post box today and we couldn't be more excited about this one! If you're interested in finding out more about Stork Stack or signing up you can do so here. Stacks are $27.99 a month and you can save $10 on your first stack if you use my referral code F9DE8478 when you check out. They're delivered the first week of each month and you'll get an email notifying you (on or around the 1st of each month) that your stack has taken flight.

"Ready, Set Summer!" July Stork Stack for a 21 month old girl.

I was so glad to see that the summer stack included a book! We love reading, we love books and somehow we've more than managed to pass that on to our little girl. She's all about the books and I love that the summer stack included a good book to read! The book in our Stack is a First Time book published by Child's Play International called Sports Day. There are 12 books in all in this series and they celebrate "first" events in the life of a little kid. This book was a great choice for the summer stack as it shows the kids in the book doing all kinds of activities outside, drinking water and wearing hats! We've already read it several times! I'm sure it's going to be a new favorite!

As for being active and playing outside, the rest of the box is all about that. We got a super set of sand molds from Mellissa & Doug. These I'm excited to bust out and try. They're plastic, so I'm pretty sure that unlike some of our M&D wooden toys in the past they won't paint chip problems or decals that come off. Plus they're made for the sand and to be used outdoors so they have to be tough right? Anyway we were sent a set of 5 nesting (for easy storage) molds ranging in size, color, shape and sea creature. These are part of Melissa & Doug's Sunny Patch line they look fun. I'm sure we'll get use out of them in our own yard, at the park, in the pool, at the beach and possibly even the bath!

These didn't stay in their original packaging for long!

The sea creature characters, a turtle, fish, starfish, crap and seahorse - so cute!

I love that they nest for easy transport and storage.

We also received a super awesome sunhat and this one I'm totally stoked about! It's a Baby Banz: Kidz UPF 50+ Reversiable Bucket Hat and the best part about it is the adjustable velcro overlapping closure in the back, meaning that even though we received a size 2-4 hat I can adjust it tight enough to fit my daughter's head now and loosen it as she grows. I'm already in love with this idea! It's genius.

I didn't know Baby Banz made this product and honestly we've never owned anything made by them, so I can't wait to give this the old try out. At first look the material feels super sturdy, but also flexible and soft. There aren't funny seams or anything that's going to cause funny lines or get itchy in warm weather. These hats come in two sizes baby which is supposed to fit age newborn to 2 years and Kidz or size 2-5 each is sized by head circumference as well for a more exact fit.  Hopefully, this is a hat my toddler will leave on, she's not so into hats, but as we spend tons of time outside she has to wear one. At least we try to keep it on.

One side is printed, the other is solid.

I was just about as excited to see Supergoop! in our box as I was to see the Banz hat. I've been wanting to try out Supergoop! sunscreen for some time now, but haven't been able to justify buying it at full price when I still have so much other sunscreen that will work in the house. 

Now I can try it and see what I think. I honestly hope it's as awesome as I've heard it's supposed to be! While I wish that they had sent a small tube of it, or another handful of little sample packets just so we could use it all summer, I'd rather have the few samples they did include than not get to try it at all. I will undoubtedly use these for travel and on the go applications rather than every day use, but that will be great as they'll be easy to pack.

Finally, the last product in our stack was a box of Bitsy's Brainfood Orange Chocolate Beet cookies. This is part of their "smart snacks"  and I must admit it was hard not to open these up and share them right away. But that might have ruined dinner.

A new snack for anytime!

This little box of alphabet cookies come complete with a collectable alphabet sticker in the box and is packed full of vitamins and nutrients. This one will be going on our next all day adventure for sure and if they're any good we'll be scouring our stores or ordering more online!

All told, I couldn't be happier with this stack, everything in it is something we'll use this summer or would have bought to try had we found it on our own anyway. We needed a new sunhat as we're right at the point of outgrowing last years and the iPlay one we have is too big for this summer.  July's Ready, Set, Summer Stack was a hit and I can't wait to see what August has in store!

If you're interested in getting your own stack in the mail go to https://www.storkstack.com/join?ref_code=F9DE8478 and use referral code F9DE8478 at check out to save $10 off your first one! August promises to be a good one, July definitely was! Boxes range from the third trimester up to age 3.

I am a current stork stack subscriber. I was in no way compensated for this review. All thoughts, opinions and photos are my own. If you purchase your own stork stack using my referral code I may receive a $10 credit on my next stack. Once you create an account you will receive a referral code of your own to share.

Thoughts on Citrus Lane & All About the June Box

Open your Citrus Lane box and this is what you should see! I love the bright yellow tissue and informational card. If you want the contents to be a surprise unwrap the tissue before opening up the info!

Our June Citrus Lane box marks the one year point in our subscription. I honestly never thought we'd continue this long with them when we signed up for the first box a year ago, but here we are; still receiving them.

The box as it comes in the mail.

Some of our boxes have been over the top awesome, some average and some have been complete misses for us. It all comes down to personal choice and lifestyle. You get what you get and it either works well for you or it doesn't and you move on. That's the chance you take with a surprise subscription box and I'm okay with it.

For us, the June CL box was at best, just average. It was disappointing, but it was disappointing for personal reasons and not because it was a terrible box. All in all it was a fine box and had the products in it worked for us now than we would have been thrilled. They don't and we're not.  Here's a look at what was in June's box.

June Box contents - the toy broke within a couple hours. I contacted Customer Care and they happily replaced if for us with a different one! Customer Care at Citrus Lane Rocks!!

That being said, one thing I love about Citrus Lane is their outstanding customer service and their real interest in making their subscribers happy. They ask for honest feedback and opinions about the boxes, they collect that information in many different forms: surveys, social media feedback, direct email and phone calls. In my experience, they listen, they open a line of dialogue and they'll go the extra mile to make you not only feel like you're a member of a great community, but that your voice matters. I have had direct dealings with several members of the Citrus Lane team over the last year and all of them have been polite, positive and respectful. I even went so far as to get discouraged and to send an email asking them whether or not feedback from their subscribers really did matter to them, and the answer wasn't just a resounding "yes" it was a here let us show you how much it does. With that said, we look forward to another year of ups and downs (mostly ups, but lets be realistic; there are going to be some downs) with Citrus Lane!

As for the June box, the items in it were great. Our box was for an 18 month old girl. Unfortunately the only things we could use right away out of it were the Episencial Sunny Sunscreen and the happy tot+ pouch. Both of which we already regularly use. The sunscreen works really well and this was a small enough size to easily throw into a diaper bag. The pouch got eaten up almost immediately. The new plus pouches by happy tot are great because they add veggies to the mix for a more balanced pouch.

 

The sun hat from iPlay was a great addition to this box and one of the reasons we actually signed up for the box last year. Although we didn't get the "Fun in the Sun" box in May last year, it was that box that gave me the final nudge to try out Citrus Lane. 

We have owned several iPlay products including infant sunhats and they're awesome. They have SPF protection, wash and wear well, are soft, light weight and super convenient to pack because they fold up so small. This is a hat you'll use over and over again. You can get them in different styles and a lot of them, like this one are reversible for the added bonus of two looks with one hat! 

Unfortunately for us, we got a size 2-4 toddler hat. iPlay only makes three sizes of hats 0-6 months, 6-18 months and 2-4T. They're all generously sized. While I would have loved to have a new 6-18 month hat in our box, we didn't get one. We didn't get one of those because Citrus Lane does their best to send products that your child won't immediately out grow and stop using. They would rather error on the side of caution and send something too big, than send something you can't use at all. As a parent, I really appreciate this most of the time! This time I didn't, but that's only because the hat is SO big that we'll have to put it up until at least next summer. Who wants a summer hat you can't use in the summer when you get it? At least I won't have to buy one for next year. Honestly, I wish they had an option to customize your child's current size under the profile information, but that isn't something they've done... at least not yet. They're always listening to customer feedback though, and who knows, it may be something that changes in the future.

Finally, because CL strives to send out a balanced box of items, there was a summer toy. This month they sent out toys from Spielstabil, which is a subdivision of Haba the German toy company and the toys are made in Germany. I honestly love Haba products and was really excited to see this toy included in the box as we'd never tried anything from their Spielstabil line. Citrus Lane sent out different sand and water toys this month and we got an apple tree sand mold. 

It was a cute toy, and I would consider other sand molds from them in the future, if I had some reassurance that this wasn't a normal occurrence.

Unfortunately, within about 2 hours of my daughter playing with it inside, the handle popped off! I was shocked as this shouldn't have happened. Spielstabil prides themselves on "Indestructible, BPA free toys made to last." So, either ours was a fluke or it somehow got broken in shipping and my daughter just managed to pull it apart because it was loose. I don't know.

They were out of the toy originally sent to us, so customer care sent 2 different products by Spielstabil (same value) instead and we've already had tons of fun using them. This is my daughter playing with them at the park.

 Either way, I contacted Customer Care at Citrus Lane about the broken toy and they sent us a replacement. The replacement toys actually made the box a little bit more fun and less disappointing because now we have something from the June Citrus Lane box that we'll be able to use all summer! Once again, many thanks to the awesome customer care team!

If you're interested in trying out your own Citrus Lane box or signing up for a subscription you can do so here. If you use this link, https://www.citruslane.com/invitedby/Audrey.Albinger when you sign up you'll save $10 off your subscription! Or if you'd rather try just one month to see if you like it, click here and enter code TAKEHALF at check out - your first box will cost only $12.50 and that's a deal! Word to the wise: you must sign up before the 5th of the month to get that months box or else you'll get the following month's box. You can cancel your subscription at anytime right on their website. If you do sign up I'd love to know your thoughts! 

No compensation was received for writing this post. All thoughts, opinions and photos are my own. We choose to subscribe to Citrus Lane and have done so at our own expense since June 2012. If you sign up from one of my links on this page I may receive a $10 credit to use for future Citrus Lane boxes and I greatly appreciate that!